In a couple of weeks I turn 43 years-old. This means I’m starting my 44th year..double fours. Four is my lucky number! This is my YEAR. I feel it. (sidenote – it’s my fave because one time my mom had us pick between 1 and 10 to see who got the end piece of a loaf of french bread. I picked four and won. Been the lucky number ever since. Shut it.)
Over the last few months I’ve been noticing something. My energy level is the pits – I’ve always been a morning person but I cannot get out of bed. I’m always getting sick. And my body is starting to morph into my mothers. Well. I’ve had enough. I’m fighting back. I don’t hate my body – I’m actually okay with it. BUT, I can’t afford to buy another set of clothes. I put a dress on that I bought last May and I couldn’t get it over my thighs. This isn’t acceptable.
So I found an awesome naturopath and we’re in the midst of addressing a crap load of issues – mostly coming from a lifetime of dehydration. (also google ‘adrenal exhaustion’ almost me to a T!) She’s doing a dietary analysis of my last week of eating now and we’ll see what that finds. Note to self – do NOT do dietary recording during long Easter weekend! I’ve also been seeing a chiropractor regularly and loving it. Thank you work benefits – acupuncture is next!!!
The other step is adding back regular exercise. So…I’m starting to bike to work. The ride is about 45 minutes and is right along the lake. There are no excuses. I’ll tell you though – competitive Sara hated being passed by essentially everyone this morning. Just wait till July…I’ll be kicking some ass.
This is my non-sucking view of downtown from the Humber Bridge. (I’ll take one weekly from the same spot and see how THAT progresses.)
But it’s not just by bod I want to work on. I want to keep learning. I want to stay on the ‘read more and watch tv less path’ that I’ve been on. I want to keep learning about myself and what drives me. (Big push for that? OPRAH on Monday. I’m going and laugh if you will…but I’m really excited. I’ve found her Life Class series to be incredibly enlightening.)
This week, my tell it like it is friend Molly, said she can tell how much growing I’ve done since she met me. This is a massive compliment coming from someone who I turn to for lectures about my bad decisions…:). I’m committed to keep that going and be healthy enough into my old age to enjoy the work.
You guys are a big part of this. By telling you my plans here…I have to stick to it. So. This will be my ‘Bridget Jones Diary’. All recorded here to keep me on track.
Friday April 13th
Beers/Wine drank in last week – 5
Orders of fries/chips in last week – 4
Weight – 172 (This is exactly my pre-pregnancy weight. Then I lost 25 pounds. Then I gained it back. I don’t need to lose 25 pounds…but I’m shooting for 155.)
Bike rides in to work – 2 (goal is 3 a week for the next two weeks…then 4 for a few weeks and so on)
So thanks in advance for keeping me in check.
What about you though? Do you find your energy getting sapped as you age???
Salam Tun Dr. Mahathir,
We understand the good purpose of affirmative action, anything if abused with the wrong intentions and objectives with become a drawback itself, it’s a double edged sword.
We can see how some people can do good things that benefits the country with the same method and power while some merely fight for their own interest.
Sadly this is what happened to our own country in the moment.
It’s not the matter of which party should lead Malaysia anymore, it’s who can lead Malaysia back to the glorious days where we can proudly claim ourself as proud Malaysian, a peace and prosperous country. Do you agree with that?
The current obviously is not the better choice anymore, we see no good future that benefits all of us, regardless of race and religious.
We should really look into the matter without prejudice.
Hello Sara!
SO nice to meet you! I love your writing… I am a fellow Canadian blogger with a new blog out there. I have joined you on twitter and looking forward to your messages… Hopefully you can go visit my blog and join! 🙂
S.O.S. Mom
http://sosmom.blogspot.com
Sara I love your honesty. And the reveal on the food journal. Talk about naked.
I have more energy now because I am happy I think but I also fall apart when I am overtired. I mean, FALL APART.
When you put something in your mouth think about the effort it will take to take it off the thigh, butt etc. That will help. Also carrying extra weight in the heat of the summer can make us miserable- like carrying suitcases in the desert. Keep up the good work
I think you are amazing. Please remember you have a preschooler at 44. Holy MOLY. Give yourself a little credit, chickie.
Happy upcoming Birthday to my wonderful Sara!!!! You are really something special.
I was hoping it was not age, I have been to the doctor, gotten thyroid medicine, found the solution to my sleep apnea and still I am constantly tired. I do excercise, regularly, karate 3-4 times a week. It is not enough for me to get back into shape. My husband is studying to become a personal trainer and is a black belt in karate, all due to the fact he found out in his 30’s that he was diabetic. We are trying to turn our lives around. Moving away from our “Fat 30’s” to our “Fit 40’s” I also play baseball, but since the summer is starting I will have to cut back on the karate to find time to take my oldest to his rep ball games. I have always just put the tiredness down to being a mom. We try to do everything for everyone else and sometimes forget to do for ourselves. Also I do not remember my mom every being this tired, although since she watches my kids for me I now know that she goes to bed @ 8 but then again she is in her 70’s and can still keep up with my kids better then I can. If they ever come up with a solution to this age thing hopefully moms will be the first to benefit.
Hey Erin!
I think the thing with the biking is it becomes part of your day….I’ve figured out that unless it’s a part of my day – i.e. not a ‘i’ll do it when Will goes to bed’ or ‘i’ll get up early’ – it just won’t happen!
And umm…..you’re not drinking??? JESUS good for you.
I get cramps in my calves and fingers, all the time, too! And the coffee? Three cups is a slow day, for me, especially when my schedule gets crazy…. You know, it never even occurred to me go to see a naturopath. Thanks for the inspiration! *fist bump*
Is that what’s wrong with me? Age. Oy. I know what you mean – I’ve been going to bed with the kids and I’m still tired. And I had a cold for more than a week WTF?
Good plan. I keep trying to get up earlier to do yoga or Jillian Michael’s boot camp but it’s not working out. The biking is a good idea. Maybe I’ll join you. I would have a beautiful lakeside bike also.
I’ve already quit drinking (3 months now) but sadly that has had no impact on my weight so I guess I’d better look at my diet. My Naturopath told me adrenal fatigue also, and that was pre-pregnancy.
Let’s make a pact sister!
Desi YOU = AWESOME – grad school…and family – you’re amazing! and the premenstrual all the time is a huge thing with me as well (and is sign of this adrenal exhaustion!) . And C & T – the dehydration is massive – I cramp all the time, feet, fingers, legs, calves. After recording what I eat and drink in a week – it’s ridiculous how little water or liquid other than coffee and booze I consume. We’re weaning one of my three daily coffees off first…and then another. But I will never give up one!
Great plan, lady! Thanks for sharing it with us too… I hear you on the dehydration – I’m a nightmare about getting enough liquid into my system. I mean, if you exclude the wine. 😉
Acupuncture can do so, So, SO many wonderful things – I’m excited for you! I’m looking forward to all your updates, woman. You are made of awesome, Sara!!
Hm. So you’re saying I should likely try weaning myself off of chocolate before I hit my 40’s?
Because I could live off of the stuff. Water I need more of. Exercise I need to start doing again.
I had my boys in my 20’s and snapped back into great shape after each of them.
Eva came in my 30’s and I’m still trying to lose the baby weight. In fact I weigh more now than I did right after I delivered her…the chocolate…did I mention she’s FIVE?
I went gluten free – which is soo good for my tummy. But gluten free doesn’t mean chocolate free…
You’ve inspired me. I will walk to pick the kids up from school today.
I AM SO JEALOUS THAT YOU’RE GOING TO OPRAH!!!!! Seriously, I’m all over this, Sara. And I’ve been doing similar contemplations. We really need to get together over a wheat grass or similar to discuss these new directions we’re taking (and I’ll give you a tarot reading, too!).
Turning 57 in July. It’s a constant battle to work and do some form of exercise!!
Do well for awhile and then some stress causes me to go off the band wagon! Trying
to get back on right now.
Good for you Sara. Working on yourself.
I turned 43 last December and you’re comments sound very familiar. My eating and exercise habits haven’t changed yet my body is changing in ways I thought I was healthy enough to avoid. Last month my partner was looking through his photos and I was shocked to see a picture of my Mom – only to find out, after asking him when they met up, that it was a picture of me. EEEEEK!!!
I’ve asked my doctor about my exhaustion issues and even asked if she thought it might be something to do with my thyroid. She told me there is nothing wrong with me that a little sleep and some depression therapy wouldn’t fix. I can’t sleep and when I do I’m still tired. I’ve been to a therapist and I’m still feeling overwhelmed with exhaustion.
Let us know how your adrenal exhaustion/naturopath experience goes. I’m looking for a light at the end of my tunnel and once again you seem to be providing a map to it. 🙂
I don’t if its age or my children…I find that I NEVER get a good nights sleep, I rarely eat a meal unless it’s dinner and I can sit and relax at the table without worrying if we are going to be late for school and everything is packed!! I too have to start taking care of my body, I feel like everyone else in my house comes first and that’s FOUR people ahead of me… I think it’s important for mom to be healthy so she can enjoy everything else around here… maybe if I did something about myself I wouldn’t EFF’IN yell so much and would be in a better mood. I don’t need to do the weight loss, although at 155lb I still feel fat,I need to tone my flabbey parts…three kids really do alot of damage to your body…
You = AWESOME! My first semester of grad school has been fueled primarily by scavenged chocolate products, cookies, take-out, and Coke. And the bod? Well, let’s just say the sexy red dress I bought for a night out last winter fits remarkably like a sausage casing…. Yes, my energy is getting sapped as I age. My body does not bounce back from dietary transgressions or extended slackitude like it used to. And I find that if I let it go on for too long, I feel premenstrual ALL THE TIME. So, here’s to finding joy in what our bodies can do (and to passing chumps on the bike path next month). Cheers to you!